Skiing in 1995

Belief in global warming seemed to become unavoidable in skiing circles in 1995, when exceptionally warm winter weather played havoc with both competitive and leisure skiing. The long history of the International Ski Federation probably had never seen a more catastrophic season. Television ratings confirmed that viewers were not put off, however, because organizers somehow managed to transmit competitions at the times advertised, even though the events may have been held at a changed venue or in a different discipline.

Alpine Skiing

For the first time the world championships, scheduled for Sierra Nevada, Spain, had to be postponed for a year because of insufficient snow. The 29th Alpine World Cup series overcame the problem by switching sites and by using artificially made snow. Interest in the series was heightened by the popularity of the men’s and women’s overall winners, each a slalom specialist of sufficient skill to thwart challenges from the more versatile all-rounders. In the men’s competition Alberto Tomba of Italy at last gained the crystal trophy he had sought since he began competing in 1986. He finished comfortably ahead of Günther Mader of Austria, with Slovenia’s Jure Kosir taking the bronze medal. Marc Girardelli of Luxembourg, seeking a record sixth success in 11 years, this time could manage only fourth place.

Tomba was a convincing leader in the slalom and won the giant slalom by five points, his 11 race victories comprising seven slaloms and four giant slaloms. He was the first slalom specialist to win the World Cup since Ingemar Stenmark of Sweden took the prize in 1978. Second in the slalom was Michael Tritscher of Austria. Kosir, third in the slalom, was giant slalom runner-up, ahead of Harald Strand-Nilsen of Norway. Luc Alphand of France narrowly outpointed Kristian Ghedina of Italy to win the downhill competition, with Patrick Ortlieb third for Austria. Peter Runggaldier of Italy took the supergiant slalom (super G), in front of Mader and another Italian, Werner Perathoner.

Switzerland’s Vreni Schneider claimed her third women’s World Cup trophy, edging Katja Seizinger of Germany by only six points, the smallest-ever winning margin. Another Swiss, Heidi Zeller-Baehler, finished third. Schneider sealed her victory with a courageous run in the slalom, which she won during the final tournament at Bormio, Italy. She then announced her retirement after culminating a career that encompassed 55 cup race wins, 3 overall titles, and 3 Olympic gold medals. Like Tomba, she was top points scorer in both the slalom and the giant slalom. Sweden’s Pernilla Wiberg placed second in the slalom, followed by Martina Ertl of Germany. Zeller-Baehler was giant slalom runner-up, with Spela Pretnar of Slovenia third. Seizinger and Zeller-Baehler finished first and second, respectively, in the super G, chased by Switzerland’s Heidi Zurbriggen.

In the downhill Picabo Street was so dominant that by mid season the American had all but sewn up the event, but her season nearly ended in tragedy when she crashed in the final race. There were fears she had been badly injured but, although airlifted off the slopes, she turned out to have suffered nothing more than severe bruises. Street was the first American, man or woman, to head the downhill rankings. Her compatriot Hilary Lindh was runner-up, with Seizinger third.

Nordic Skiing

Bjørn Dæhlie of Norway recaptured the men’s overall title in the 16th Nordic World Cup. The women’s crown was regained by Yelena Vyalbe of Russia, her third success in four years. The separate Nordic Combined World Cup was retained by Kenji Ogiwara of Japan, and the Jumping World Cup was taken by Andreas Goldberger of Austria.

Vladimir Smirnov of Kazakhstan was the outstanding man in the world championships at Thunder Bay, Ont., winning the 10 km, 15 km, and 30 km, while Silvio Fauner of Italy bagged the grueling 50 km, in which Smirnov finished third. Norway won the team relay. Larissa Lazhutina of Russia was dominant in the women’s events, winning the 5 km, 10 km, and 15 km. Vyalbe claimed the 30 km and was also on the winning Russian relay team. The Nordic combination victor was Ogiwara. The 120-m jump went to Tommy Ingebrigtsen of Norway and the 90 m to Takanobu Okabe of Japan.

Freestyle Skiing

In the 16th Freestyle World Cup series, Jon Moseley of the U.S. clinched the men’s title, with compatriot Trace Worthington placing second and David Belhumeur of Canada third. Another American, Kristean Porter, retained the women’s trophy, ahead of Maja Schmid of Switzerland and Katherina Kubenk of Canada.

Worthington won the men’s title in the biennial world championships at La Clusaz, France, followed by Darcy Downs from Canada and with Moseley third. Porter captured the women’s prize from Schmid and Kubenk, the three ending in the same order as in the World Cup. Howard Bass

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